Following an O Heraldo report on a torchlight (mashal) march by over 500 locals in Aram bol against hill conversion and forest destruction, civil society members and opposition leaders have called for a State-wide people’s movement to pro tect Goa’s fragile ecology. Former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Justice Ferdino Inacio Re bello, has issued a public appeal urging Goans to unite against what he described as unchecked and unregulated development in ecologically sensitive areas of the State. Reacting to O Heraldo’s report on the Arambol pro test against development activities in forest areas, Justice Rebello said such localised resistance must grow into a broader, united movement across Goa to safeguard the State’s hills, forests, water bodies, sea shores and villages from rampant construction and land-use conversions. Expressing serious con cern over large-scale plot ting and the construction of villas with swimming pools, Justice Rebello pointed to the contradic tion of such developments at a time when many Goan villages are facing acute water shortages. “Can we work together? I am will ing to help,” he said in a message shared on social media, urging citizens to unite for the larger cause. Justice Rebello also proposed the drafting of a “People’s Charter” outlining key demands to ensure sustainable de velopment in Goa. The charter calls for a complete ban on development on hill slopes, repeal of laws permitting zoning changes, strict enforcement of the precautionary principle, and mandatory carrying-capacity studies before permitting village-level plotting. It also seeks criminal and disciplinary action against officials and professionals who submit false reports, dem olition of illegal constructions in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas, and the removal of casinos from the Mandovi River. Calling for united public action, Justice Rebello urged Goans to mobilise to protect the State’s ecological bal ance and preserve its natural heritage for future gener ations. Supporting the call for a State-wide movement, Goa Forward Party (GFP) president and Fatorda MLA Vi jai Sardesai said the conversion of nearly three lakh square metres of land at Arambol was not an isolated incident. “The conversion runs along nearly 1.5 km of a hill from private forest to settlement zone. This is not a single case. There are many such instances across Goa. The govern ment has abandoned planned development. There is no regional plan, nor any attempt to study the State’s carrying capacity,” Sardesai said. He noted that even BJP leader Suresh Prabhu had ear lier spoken about the need for a carrying-capacity study. “The government appears hell-bent on selling the land of the State. The people of Goa must resolve that they will not allow this to happen,” he said. Retired IAS officer Arvind Bhatikar also backed the ap peal, warning of what he termed moral, cultural and so cio-economic devastation in Goa. “Goa has one liquor bar for every 8,000 people, com pared to one for every one lakh in Maharashtra and 1.5 lakh in Karnataka. The State has around 200 nightclubs, many of which operate illegally, even though there is no clear legal provision for running nightclubs,” Bhatikar said. He said Goa needs activism urgently and fully supported Justice Rebello’s call for a People’s Movement, likening it to historic struggles such as Goa’s liberation movement, the Opinion Poll and the movements for Konkani and State hood.
Call for people’s movement to save Goa’s green cover
